Slime-separator



(No Model.)v 1 P. H. DUNAGAN.

SLIME SEPARATOR. v

' No. 404,521. Patented June 4, 1889.

WITNESSES: IIVVEIVTOR,

AITOHIVEY,

N PETERS. Pholn-Lilhognlphur. WfllhiuglOn. o. c.

UNITED STATES PATENT QFFIG PATRICK H. DUN AGAN, OF DENVER, COLORADO.

SLlME-SEPARATOR.

SPECIFICATION forming part of Letters Patent No. 404,521, dated June 4,1889.

Application filed November '7, 1887. Serial No. 254,617. (No model.)

To all whom it may concern.-

Be it known that I, PATRICK H. DUNAGAN, a citizen of the United States,residing at Denver, in the county of Arapahoo and State of Colorado,have invented a new and useful Slime-Separator, of which the followingis a specification, reference being had to the accompanying drawings,forming part hereof.

My invention relates to an improved apparatus for separating and savingthe valuable slimes and floats found in almost all ores bearing theprecious metals, and which, from their small specific gravity, arecarried off and lost in the tailings; and its objects are to furnishsuch an apparatus reliable in operation, adapted when properly used toeffect the thorough separation and saving of such valuebearing slimes orfloats from the ores or the tailings thereof, economical inconstruction,

and durable in use; to which ends it consists in the features andcombinations more particularly hereinafter set forth and claimed.

In the drawings is illustrated an improved separator embodying myinvention for such ends, in which drawings- Figure 1 is a side view ofmy improved apparatus; Fig. 2, a top plan view thereof; Fig. 3, across-section of the tank and valve apparatus on line :29 as, Fig. 2;and Fig. 4, a front view of a detail of construction.

In the figures the reference-numeral 1 indicates any suitable framing,upon which the parts are mounted and by which they are supported. At oneend of the frame is atank 2, whose shape is that of an inverted pyramid,and which has a discharge-orifice 3 at its bottom, terminating in adischarge-pipe 4, to which suitable pipes or troughs may be attached forcarrying the discharge from the tank to any desired point. Thepulverized ore or mingled ore and water is fed into this tank by anyordinary means-say a trough whose end rests on the top of the outer endof thetank.

In order to maintain the water in the tank at a uniform height, anautomatic valve apparatus is combined therewith, as follows:

5 is an additional tank or chamber of any desired shape incross-section, secured alongside or near the tank 2, and within which isa float 6, of corresponding shape, and adapted.

to move easily and readily as a pistonwithin chamber 5. By a rod 7 thisfloat is suspended from a bar 8 at one end thereof, this bar extendingand lying across the tank 2, and being pivoted or hinged at its otherend to the opposite side of the frame, as shown at28. Immediately overthe discharge-orifice 3 of the tank a rod 9 depends from bar 8, a valve10 being secured to the lower. end thereof. A pipe 29 connects the tank2 and chamber 5, so as to maintain the same level of waterboth in 2 and5. The rods 7 and 9 are adj ust-ably secured to the bar 8 by any commonand convenient means of adj ustmentsuch as plain or winged nuts takingon screw-threaded por tions of the rod+so that the relation of float andvalve and height of water may be regulated as desired or needed. Theoperation of these combined parts in maintaininga practically constantwater-level is too obvious to need further description.

13 is the main driving-shaft, journaled in suitable bearings, motionbeing communicated thereto through the bevel-gears 12, one of which issecured to theshaft 13 and one to a short shaft at right angles thereto,and carrying the main driving-pulley 11, to which power is conveyed fromany suitable motor.

As seen in Fig. 2, the main shaft 13 is slightly cranked at each end, soas to give a slight reciprocating motion in their bearings to the shafts19 and 24, for a purpose hereinafter noted, these cranked ends taking inboxes 22 and 23, constructed as shown in Fig. 4, and attached to theends of 19 and 24,1'espectively. By means ofarms-30 an agitator 25depends from the shaft 24 to such distance within the tank 2 as to reachjust to or just beneath the surface of the water in the tanks, to securewhich end the arms 30 are secured to the shaft 24: by adjustable nuts orclamps 26. The face of this agitator or rippler is serrated orcorrugated, as clearly shown in Fig. 2, so as when reciprocated by themovement of 24 it shall gently agitate the surface of the water andthrow it in ripples to its front.

Upon axes or shafts 16, 18, 19, and 20 are secured rollers, over whichpasses a belt 17, to which motion is communicated by means of aworm=gear 15 on shaft 16 meshing with a screw or worm 14 on the'mainshaft 13, this form of gearing being preferable in that a very slow rateof movement of the belt relatively to that of the agitator maybesecured. This belt and the rollers over which it passes are so arrangedthat in its travel the belt shall dip just beneath the surface of thewater in 2, whence it rises over roller on 18 and then dips down again,passing over reciprocating roller and shaft 19. At this latter point isplaced a receptacle or tank 21 for the reception of the matter broughtover by the belt. In order to relieve the belt of strain incommunicating motion from the first roller-the one on shaft 1(ito theother rollers, the shafts are extended and provided with pulleys on suchextensions, over which passes a belt or cord 27, and in order that thebelt may be kept at the proper degree of tension thebearings of theshaft 18 are made adjustable, so that they may be raised or lowered.

It should be noted that the belt 17 should be of some fibrous materialor of roughened surface, in order that the particles of slime may adherethereto and so be lifted thereby, and also so porous that water maypercolate therethrough and be drained in part at least from the solidmaterial thereon. As possessing these features, I have found a woven.woolen or mixed woolen fabric the preferable material for such belt,though other materials possessing the same characteristics may be used.

The transverse reciprocating movement given the belt 17 by the shaft 19at the point where the belt passes over the roller on such shaft andwithin the receptacle 21 is intended to aid in the removal of the slimesor floats caught on the belt by shaking or jarring. As

the receptacle 21 is kept supplied with water, beneath which belt 17dips, this removal of slimes is assisted by the washing action of thewater. To morecertainly attain such removal, brushes or scrapers may beplaced in receptacle 21 beneath the belt and arranged to take againstsuch belt. As this means of cleaning a beltis well known, it isnotherein illustrated.

The operation of the apparatus is as follows: Iowerbein g applied to themain dri vin g-pulley 11, pulverized ore and water are fed into the tank2. The mineral, of greater or high specific gravity, immediately sinks,the slimes floatin g on top or near the surface of the water. Theagitator 25, being reciprocated during this time, causes ripples in thewater, sending it gently toward the belt, with the slimes floating 011top. As the latter reach the belt they adhere thereto and are liftedthereby from the water and carried up and over to the receptacle 21,where they are removed from thebelt either by the jigging motion, giventhe latter alone, or by it and the brushes referred to combined, andsuch operation is continuous solongas there is a supply of ore and waterto be fed into the tank 2. As the water and ore accumulatein such tankand the level of the water rises, the float (5 rises, opening thedischarge 3, and permittin the escape of suftieientmingled ore and waterto restore the -water to the predetermined height in the tank, it beingthus maintain ed at the proper height for the effective working of theapparatus.

The method of saving such slimes, necessarily herein disclosed indescribing the principle and operation of this improved apparatus, I donot herein claim, as for such method separate and independentapplication will be made. I

In practice this apparatus may be placed at any convenient point betweenthe pulverizing-milhand the concentrators, or where it may be caused toact on any form of pulverized ore, or upon the failings which have beenthrough concentrators, but from which the slimes were not separated.

Ilaving thus described my invention, what I claim, and desire to secureby Letters Patent, 1S-

1. In a slime-separator, the combination of a tank for receiving thepulverized material and water, asecond and independent tank forreceiving the floats or slimes, a porous roughsurfaeed belt dipping justbelow the waterline in the first tank to lift the slimes from thesurface of the water, thence inclining upwardly and then downwardly tothe slime-r'eceptaele, rollers over which the belt passes at either end,central rollers in a higher position than the end rollers, and the meansfor communicating motion thereto, substantially as described.

2. In a slime-separator, the combination. of a tank for receiving thepulverized material an d water, a second and independent tank forreceiving the slimes, aporous rough-surfaced belt dipping just below thewater-line in the first tank to lift the slimes from the surface of thewater, thence inclining upwardly and then downwardly to the slimereceptacle, rollers over which the belt passes at either end, centralrollers in a higher position than the end rollers, and means forimparting to the end rollers both a rotary and alongitudinally-reciprocatin g motion, substantially as described.

In testimony whereof I have hereunto set my hand this 1st day ofNovember, A. l). 1887.

PATRICK II. DUNAGAN.

IV i tnesses:

Z. 1 \VILi-inn, l 1.. PoLLocK.

ITS

